[Narcodran]

I have no position on whether or not it is "not uncommon". I only know one kendo person who is a professional actor, plus a cinematographer, a film producer, a stage director, several lawyers, a D.J., business owners, a chef, several stockbrokers, architects, doctors etc.

Thats cool. All sorts and all that. Makes it interesting. Totally with you. But - as you know - im not fond of sweeping generalisations about kendo/koryu in Japan... and the mystification that comes with it.

Anyway, I love ya!

[education]

Ok, well then I think I didn't expressed my idea correctly, what I meant was that being an actor wasn't incompatible with being a martial art teacher. Some people seem to view the fact that Obata sensei is an actor as a negative thing, while it's not a unique case.

As for being a farmer, it's not common in urban areas, in rural areas it's quite different. Otake Risuke soke was a farmer and a lot or rural koryu have farmers in their ranks (or at least had some years ago).

[Necedofer]

ive seen a bio in one of the kendo mags about one recently. He wasnt a teacher though.

Hatsunori Hasegawa?
There was an interview with him in a 2006 issue of Kendo Nippon.